Metal Halide life span

[BigB7]

Hello: Got a question on the life span of some Metal Halide bulbs.. I have 1 250w phoenix bulb running on my tank thats been on there running 8hrs a day since late Feb.. Just wondering if it needs replaced or does it still have life left? Thanks

 

[JasonPG]

at 8 hours a day I'd estimate that you would want to change the bulb every 9 months.

 

[dmorazan]

8 hours you could go to a year. tha t is low. 10-12 is about every 9-12 month for me and still get good par. 8 hours is low so for me 1 year

 

[VegasRick]

At 12 months you might still have good par, but when you change to new bulbs the corals are in for a shock.

 

[BigB7]

Thanks for the quick replies.. I was thinking about 6 mo. witch would put me right about that time... One of the reasons I ask (besides the obvious) is I get this yellowish/brown stuff in my sand bed that just wont go away and when I use to use cheap bulbs that was a sign that the bulb is about done.. I have tested my water and all is good, I do a water change and siphon the sand and within a few hours its starts comming back...

 

[RaeRae]

I had this same set up. And had a birds nest acro at the top and noticed somewere between 8 and 9 months it would stop getting new growth tips. Its a cheap acro but it was a very good gauge for me to know when it was time to chang bulbs.

 

[ksc]

Here's a good article about the Phoenix bulb:Light Output of the Phoenix 14,000K DE MH Bulb Over Time by Allen Chantelois - Reefkeeping.com

 

[Dave3112]

Here's a good article about the Phoenix bulb:Light Output of the Phoenix 14,000K DE MH Bulb Over Time by Allen Chantelois - Reefkeeping.com

Thanks for posting that! I have been looking for that article and forgot where I had read it.

 

[kuyatwo]

I replace my t5 bulbs and mh bulbs every six months


1. Your par starts to decline after 6 months plus you don't have acclimate the corals as long if you go from year old bulbs to new bulbs

2. You can usually sell the 6 month old bulbs for close too 1/2 price. So you are still paying for 1 set a bulbs a year after you sell the old ones if you sell them twice a year


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